PC1,
Your assertion that to be ranked number one in the world you have to win the world tour is just wrong. In 1961 Rosewall was ranked number one in the world by many sources including L'equipe, Phillipe Chatrier , sutter, Christian boussus, peter rowley, Geist, tony trabert , john Newcombe, rod laver and Joe McCauley plus the New york times and World tennis magazine. Gonzales argued in a 1963 interviw that he was number one in 1961 but he based his argument on the fact that he won 5 out of 8 touranments and rosewall won 2 out of 6 (in fact Rosewall won 4 out of 9 events). Gonzales knew what counted in 1961 was the tournament circuit which brought all best players together not the world tour which failed to do that. Remember Gonzales played the tournament circuit and pro majors every year between 1954 and 1961 except in 1960 when he got into an argument with kramer and refused to play. The tournament circuit and pro majors were just as important as the world tour because they gave every pro not just the restricted number of the world tour to be number one.

jeffrey, Regarding 1961 you might be right, but I think that pc1 is right regarding the world tours generally. Maybe, 1959 might be another exception as there was a long tournament series unlike to other years.

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The 1959 world pro tour was a 4-man tour, with Gonzales and Hoad alongside 2 new pros in Cooper and Anderson. The new boys promptly got thrashed, not winning a single match against Gonzales, but they won enough matches against Hoad to give Gonzales the victory. That was the format. Gonzales won this tour, and thrashed Hoad in the US Pro final, although Hoad got revenge at the Tournament of Champions.

In 1960, Gonzales barely played a tournament due to the end of that long contract with Kramer, but he dominated the 4-man tour involving Rosewall, Segura, and the newly turned pro, Olmedo.

1961 had a lot of players involved on the tour (although Rosewall was absent), and Gonzales won that with ease. Gonzales won his 8th US Pro title.

Rosewall admittedly did better overall in the tournament scene in 1960 and 1961, but the tours were the most important then. In 1960, he did a number on Rosewall on the 4-man tour, and in 1961 beat a lot of pros except Rosewall on the tour and backed it up with an 8th US Pro triumph.

The 1959 world pro tour was a 4-man tour, with Gonzales and Hoad alongside 2 new pros in Cooper and Anderson. The new boys promptly got thrashed, not winning a single match against Gonzales, but they won enough matches against Hoad to give Gonzales the victory. That was the format. Gonzales won this tour, and thrashed Hoad in the US Pro final, although Hoad got revenge at the Tournament of Champions.

In 1960, Gonzales barely played a tournament due to the end of that long contract with Kramer, but he dominated the 4-man tour involving Rosewall, Segura, and the newly turned pro, Olmedo.

1961 had a lot of players involved on the tour (although Rosewall was absent), and Gonzales won that with ease. Gonzales won his 8th US Pro title.

Rosewall admittedly did better overall in the tournament scene in 1960 and 1961, but the tours were the most important then. In 1960, he did a number on Rosewall on the 4-man tour, and in 1961 beat a lot of pros except Rosewall on the tour and backed it up with an 8th US Pro triumph.

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Actually, there was a second world pro championship in 1958 and 1959 with a bonus money pool, both of which were won by Hoad. The Forest Hills event was a part of these tours, which consisted of major tournaments around the world, although the US Pro and Wembley, run by independent management, were not included in the circuit. Hoad defeated Gonzales in both Forest Hills events, and his combined record against Gonzales for the two tours was 6 wins and 6 losses, against Rosewall 7 wins and 5 losses. The 1958 tour consisted of five tournaments, the 1959 tour consisted of 14 tournaments.